Mediterranean Mountain Environments

Mediterranean mountains exhibit many similarities in their biotic ecological, physical and environmental characteristics. There are also many differences in terms of their human colonization pattern, historic land uses and current anthopogenic pressures.  This book provides an introduction to these environments of mountainous areas in the Mediterranean and their changes in time and space in relation to both natural and cultural factors. Mediterranean Mountain Environments places its emphasis on physical geography while adopting an integrated approach to the whole subject area. The book draws examples from a wide range of environments, demonstrating the interaction between human and physical processes responsible for shaping mountain areas. Risks and conflicts, as well as methods and tools for the conservation and management of both the natural and cultural environment are covered in the light of future challenges for the sustainable development of the Mediterranean mountains. Emphasis on both mainland and island mountain ranges Combines natural and cultural approach in the topic Integrated approach: facing future challenges based on the study and understanding of the historical processes that have shaped the Mediterranean mountains Key references at the end of each chapter

Table of Contents:
List of contributors xi Preface xiii Acknowledgements xv 1 Introduction to the Mediterranean mountain environments 1 Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Setting the scene 3 1.3 The character of the Mediterranean mountains 6 References 9 2 Quaternary environmental history 11 A.M. Mannion 2.1 Introduction 11 2.2 The pre-Quaternary period 12 2.3 The Quaternary period 15 2.4 The Holocene 27 2.5 Conclusion 29 References 30 3 Glacial history 35 Philip D. Hughes 3.1 Introduction 35 3.2 Pleistocene glaciations in the Mediterranean mountains 37 3.3 Modern and recent glaciers in the Mediterranean mountains 52 3.4 Conclusion 56 References 56 4 Landforms and soils 65 Maria Teresa Melis and Stefano Loddo 4.1 Introduction 65 4.2 Geomorphological processes in the Mediterranean mountain region 65 4.3 Geological setting 66 4.4 Soil characteristics of Mediterranean landscape units 67 4.5 Northern Mediterranean mountain landscapes: from the Pyrenees to the Hellenids 70 4.6 Eastern Mediterranean mountains: the Lebanon Mountains 72 4.7 Southern Mediterranean mountains: Atlas Mountains and Iberian Baetic Cordillera 74 4.8 Characteristic mountain landscapes of the Mediterranean islands 78 4.9 Conclusion 83 References 83 5 Climate and hydrology 87 Carmen de Jong, Ibrahim Gürer, Alon Rimmer, Amin Shaban and Mark Williams 5.1 Introduction 87 5.2 Climate and physical characteristics 90 5.3 Vulnerability of water resources to climate change 103 5.4 Adaptation strategies 106 5.5 Conclusion 108 References 109 6 Biogeography 115 Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis 6.1 Introduction to mountain biogeography 115 6.2 Vegetation 118 6.3 Flora 124 6.4 Fauna 127 6.5 Conservation in Mediterranean mountains 129 6.6 Conclusion 131 References 132 7 Cultural geographies 137 Veronica della Dora and Theano S. Terkenli 7.1 Introduction 137 7.2 Mythical mountains 139 7.3 Theophanic mountains 142 7.4 ‘Traditional’ mountains 148 7.5 Commodified mountains 151 7.6 Conclusion 154 References 155 8 Land use changes 159 Vasilios P. Papanastasis 8.1 Introduction 159 8.2 Drivers of land use changes 160 8.3 Major land uses and their historical evolution 162 8.4 Recent land use changes 167 8.5 Discussion 173 8.6 Conclusion 178 8.7 Acknowledgements 178 References 179 9 Climate change and its impact 185 D. Nogués-Bravo, J.I. López-Moreno and S.M. Vicente-Serrano 9.1 Introduction 185 9.2 Climate change in Mediterranean mountains 186 9.3 Cryosphere changes in the Mediterranean mountains 190 9.4 Hydrosphere changes in the Mediterranean mountains 191 9.5 Biosphere changes in the Mediterranean mountains 192 9.6 Conclusion 197 References 198 10 Conclusions 201 Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis 10.1 Introduction 201 10.2 Environmental challenges in Mediterranean mountains 202 10.3 Adaptation and protection 205 10.4 Conclusion 208 References 208 Index 211

About the Author :
Dr Ioannis Vogiatzakis is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture Policy & Development, University of Reading. His research interests include: Plant ecology and biogeography of Mediterranean islands and mountains, GIS and remote sensing for vegetation and habitat modelling, Landscape Character Assessment and habitat restoration, The effects of landscape structure and habitat quality on biodiversity and The integration of species and habitat data for nature conservation evaluation.

Review :
“The diversity of contributions is well organized, making Mediterranean Mountain Environmentsuseful also as textbook, as it is presenting general concepts and detailed case-studies at the time.”  (Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 1 May 2013) “This framework could be a useful starting point for a future edition of this book, which could truly be a textbook with chapters on both physical and human geography, drawing together all of the knowledge deriving from research in the mountains of all of the countries of the region, including Algeria, Cyprus, Lebanon, Turkey, and the countries of the West Balkans, which rarely feature in this book.”  (Mountain Research and Development, 1 August 2013) “It will provide ideal reading for students, perhaps as the textbook for a field course.”  (Frontiers of Biogeography, 1 December 2012)